NEWH - Spring 2016 - 40

Q&A

Getting to Know
Andrea Thomas

Vice president of education for the NEWH, Inc. board
of directors, and owner of Thomas Design Source
How did you become involved in NEWH?
Before and after moving to Las Vegas, I was working as an interior
designer-not in hospitality, but more in the commercial realm.
I took some time off from design to get an MBA at University of
Nevada, Las Vegas. After graduating I went into sales with Scott
Group Custom Carpets. I joined NEWH as a member shortly after,
not only to get back into the interior design world but also to get
connected in the hospitality industry. I knew that Janie Radoff,
who I had previously worked with and was a great friend, had been
involved in starting the Las Vegas chapter in 1991.
What has NEWH done for you, both personally and professionally?
I was asked to take the position of scholarship director on the
chapter board. Being a young chapter and with succession
planning not being the biggest priority at the time, I stayed in
the position for five years. I went on to fi ll the vice president of
development position and the following four-year leadership
commitment. Th is also included being a delegate, of course.
Serving on the national board opened my eyes to what it meant
to be a part of the organization as a whole and what was being
accomplished by the great leaders in this group. The many business
contacts, personal friendships, and professional growth in areas
like strategic planning and team building have been invaluable.
In your role as NEWH, Inc.'s vice president of scholarship what do
you have planned for 2016? What are you most looking forward to?
We are always looking to establish additional scholarship
opportunities for students, as well as getting hospitality students
and scholarship recipients involved in NEWH on the chapter level
as future board members. We also are planning on creating a video
that tells the impactful stories of past recipients to communicate our
mission and who we are to the industry.
What were some of the highlights of 2015?
The most exciting event was the Leadership Conference held in
Dallas last January. The conference has gotten better and better each
time and has become an important part of what NEWH does for
the hospitality industry. Education, along with scholarship, is the
main mission for the organization and to get this message out to the

40 www.newh.org

industry-particularly owners-is quite rewarding. Meeting and
awarding scholarships to worthy, talented students on the chapter
level, as well as all over the country, is and always has been the best
job in the NEWH organization.
Tell us a bit about what's new with Thomas Design Source.
My representation list has become shorter, so I can concentrate
on what is not only most successful but what gives me the most
pleasure. SK Fabrics, an importer of quality fabrics from a large
group of mills in Europe and Asia, has been a great association. Scott
Group Custom Carpets, which I have represented for going on two
decades, has recently acquired Hokanson, which also includes several
luxury products that complement our offering. The company has
been rebranded as Scott Group Studio, manufacturing Scott Group
Custom Carpets in the U.S. and Hokanson Carpets in Asia and Nepal.
What is your business outlook for the next year or two?
The future is bright in Las Vegas after our first experience of
being seriously impacted by a major recession. Projects are being
reinstated and many new ones are on the horizon, both domestically
and offshore. The industry is once again thriving after what our Las
Vegas chapter coined the Las Vegas Renaissance.
Latest travel highlight or plan?
I spent an early Christmas in New York with Roger Thomas (my
former husband), his partner Art, my daughter Drew, and her
boyfriend Keenan. We were able to join Roger at his induction into
the Interior Design Hall of Fame and spend several days doing
museums, theater, and shopping. [It was a] wonderful trip!
When you aren't working or at an NEWH event, where can we
find you?
I enjoy attending the Las Vegas Philharmonic concerts at its new
home at the Smith Center-a state of the art theater complex
that was built during the recession, incidentally-as well as their
season of Broadway shows. Working out regularly and enjoying the
company of friends are also a must! ❙❘❚
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NEWH - Spring 2016

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